IT is always pleasing to return to a former club and leave in triumph.

IT is always pleasing to return to a former club and leave in triumph.

It was doubly satisfying for Lawrence Wilson, who not only saw his Huyton side pull off a shock at Firwood Bootle, but also played a significant part in it, too.

The odds were definitely against such a result as they suffered a collapse to 47-4 in chasing a home target of 178 (49), but inspired by a stand worth 90 for the fifth wicket between Simon Brown (52) and Wilson (48), and a little help from Ashraf Nawab (25 not out), they battled to a four-wicket triumph.

The match saw a batting debut for Ian Cockbain junior, who made 16, but his father and skipper, Ian will feel valuable ground has been lost in the three-way challenge with Chelmere Homes Liverpool Competition Premier Division title rivals Ormskirk and Wallasey.

David Snellgrove batted superbly in the Echo Knockout semi-final win over Maghull on Friday, sharing a stand of 93 with Brad Pilon. The Ormskirk skipper bettered that with 137 for the opening wicket the following day with Kevin Burns (76 not out), which laid the foundations for a four-wicket win at New Brighton.

The Wirral club was well served by David Heyes (47), Paul Bryson (44) and Neil Cross (39) in their 193 (56.4) after being inserted, but their attack took something of a hammering from the leaders.

Wallasey remain close on their heels with an expected success against struggling Sefton Park. Phil Luxon played the lead role, scoring 71 out of 203-7 (50), after Mike Beaver had elected to bat, and he later took 3-38 as the visitors were dismissed for 131.

Luxon shared a stand of 92 for the second wicket with Graham Reid (53), while Rob Houghton and Howard Parker shared six wickets, but Stewart Langford's knock of 39 only delayed the inevitable result, in which Ian Hemsworth impressed with 4-50.

Northern came a cropper on a worn pitch against Northop Hall. Late order batsmen Matt Doggett (30) and Jack Woosey (25) made batting look easier after eight wickets had fallen for 59. But 99 was hardly going to be sufficient after Shane Carlton (5-44) and Mushtaq Ahmed (5-42) had done the damage.

James Dyer (30) got the Welsh side off to a bright start and Mushtaq (36 not out) and Karl Evans (12 not out) guided the visitors home by seven wickets. They were harsh on Lancashire bowler Gary Yates, hitting him for 21 in the over before victory was secured.

Lytham's up and down season took an upward turn with a comprehensive win over Leigh.

Chris Sainsbury (91) and Peter Fulton (53) got Lytham off to a flyer with 120 on the board in 12 overs. They called a halt at 252-9 declared (50), which must have seemed an unlikely achievement as the visitors slumped to 40-4.

Iqbal Sikander, who had earlier bowled well for figures of 5-85, scored 38 as he and Anthony Mulligan (42) tried to retrieve the situation, but the innings ended at 166 (Dan Thompson 4-35, Fulton 3-61).

Peter Monar starred for Wigan in the draw with Colwyn Bay. He hit 67, sharing a fifth wicket partnership of 131 with Joe Taylor (79), out of 251-7 (54) after the home side elected to bat. Then he took 5-83 (21 overs) in restricting the Welsh side to 207-8 in reply, with David Watkins (57), Chris Rowley (39 not out) and Jannisar Khan, who followed up his 3-34 with a fine 37.